Spinal Cord-Transected Mice Learn to Step in Response to Quipazine Treatment and Robotic Training

The Journal of Neuroscience, 2005 · DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1523-05.2005 · Published: December 14, 2005

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how spinal cord-transected mice can regain stepping ability through a combination of robotic training and quipazine, a serotonin agonist. The research compares the effectiveness of manual training, robotic training, quipazine treatment alone, and the combined approach in promoting functional recovery. The key finding is that the combination of robotic training and quipazine leads to significant improvements in stepping compared to either treatment alone.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

36 Swiss-Webster mice

Evidence Level

Level II: Experimental study

Key Findings

1
Manual training alone was ineffective in improving stepping performance in complete spinal cord-transected mice.
2
Quipazine treatment alone acutely improved step shape consistency and the number of steps, but the improvements did not persist after withdrawal.
3
The combination of robotic training and quipazine treatment resulted in significantly better stepping performance than either treatment alone, demonstrating an interaction effect.

Research Summary

The study demonstrates that complete spinal cord-transected mice can be robotically trained to step, whereas manual training, as performed in the present study, is ineffective. Quipazine (0.5 mg/kg) effectively facilitates but does not directly generate stepping, suggesting it enhances the spinal cord's ability to process sensory information. When applied concurrently, quipazine and robotic step training produce an interaction effect, resulting in stepping performance that exceeds that achieved when either intervention is used alone.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Combining robotic training with pharmacological interventions like quipazine may be a more effective strategy for locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury.

Understanding Spinal Cord Plasticity

The study highlights the importance of the neurotransmitter environment in the spinal cord for modulating the effects of training and sensory cues on locomotor function.

Robotics in Rehabilitation

Robotic systems can provide precise and consistent training, enabling quantitative assessment of locomotor performance and facilitating rehabilitation after spinal cord injury.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on mice, and the results may not be directly applicable to humans.
2
The specific manual training method used may not represent all possible manual training approaches.
3
The long-term effects of the combined treatment were not fully investigated.

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